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132	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
PETER GOFF, inspector of boilers for the Cambria Steel Company for the last twenty years, and who is recognized as one of the most expert boiler men in the state of Pennsylvania, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and has lived in Johnstown a little more than fifty years.     His father was John Goff, who married Bridgett Cruse. Both were natives of Ireland and married there. The precise location of their home in the old country is not now known, but was somewhere in the vicinity of the city of Dublin. John Goff was by trade a mill worker, and came with his wife to America in 1846, settling at Trenton, New Jersey, where he at one time worked in a mill owned by the late Peter Cooper, manufacturer and noted philanthropist of New York City. In 1852 Mr. Goff left Trenton and came to Pennsylvania. At first he worked on the construction of the Pennsylvania railroad near what was then known as Plain Nine. Two years later he came to Johnstown and was employed by the Cambria Iron Company from that time until his death, in 1866. His widow survived him nearly forty years, and died in October, 1894. Both were communicating members of the Catholic church. Their children were as follows: James Goff, married Ruth Riley; both now dead. Peter Goff, of Johnstown, married Sarah Braddock, and had eight children. Julia Goff, married John F. Boyle, engineer for the Lorain Steel Company, of Johnstown. William Goff, died in infancy.     Peter Goff, second son and child of John and Bridgett (Cruse) Goff, was born on the 1st day of April, 1849, and was five years old when his parents settled in Johnstown. As a baby he attended the common schools, and at the age of twelve years entered the service of the Cambria Iron Company as a water boy. After three years he left the shops and went back to school for a few more months, but soon again returned to the company as a driver. In 1869, he went into the mill and worked about two years and then was given employment in the boiler shop. In that department of the company's extensive works he began at the bottom and gradually worked through all the branches of boiler construction until he was a complete master of the art of boilermaking, for boiler construction at the present time is both an art and a science. The Cambria Steel Company knew the quality and ability of the man, and in 1885 advanced him to the position of boiler inspector, which he has held since that time. His work is performed chiefly in the vicinity of Johnstown, and as occasion requires he makes visits to Lewistown and to the coke regions of southern Pennsylvania, where the company boilers are extensively used. Mr. Goff is at all times a busy man, and while he takes an interest in public affairs he has little inclination for indulgence in polities. He is not allied to either of the great political parties, and votes independent of party ties. At one time he held the municipal office of councilman, and served an unexpired part of the term of Sheriff Baumer, who had resigned his office to become a candidate for state senator. In religious preference Mr. Goff is a Roman Catholic. He lives in an elegant residence on Singer street, in Johnstown, the site on which his house stands having been purchased by his father in 1855, and his home is the seat of comfort and generous hospitality. At the time of the Johnstown flood the several members of Mr. Goff's family, except himself, were at home, high above reach of the waters, but be was down in the business district of the city and escaped only by running to high ground.     On April 14, 1874, Peter Goff married Sarah Braddock, a daughter of Pius J. and Frances (Geiger) Braddock, of Johnstown. Mr. Braddock was of English descent, a music teacher of profession, and lived in Zanesville, Ohio, before he removed to Johnstown. His wife's father

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